8 Advantages of Metal Cladding over Concrete or Masonry Cladding

From being exotic and rare a few decades ago, metal cladding has become quite mainstream today. Its strength and durability notwithstanding, metal cladding is also preferred for its appearance, a lightweight compared to concrete or masonry cladding and most importantly, easy installation. That said, one of the lesser spoken about metal cladding advantages is versatility. This allows metal cladding panels to be made and installed in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colours, finishes and textures.

That apart, here are eight of the most notable advantages of metal cladding installation over other types of cladding.

1) They are amazingly versatile

The beauty of metal cladding is that it can be installed anywhere in a building. For instance, you can use it on your walls instead of masonry or concrete products, cover all of the building’s exterior or just highlight certain parts of the building to create a centre of attraction. Builders also use metal panels for roof decking, creating details like soffits, fascia and trims and providing accents or contrasts to enhance the building’s looks.
When it comes to the interiors, a lot of builders nowadays are opting for metal panels instead of traditional materials like drywall or wood. That is because ceiling and wall surfaces made of metal panels are strong, durable and visually appealing. And since metal panels can be made using several different materials and textures, the number of looks that can be created for a building increases exponentially.

2) They are made from diverse materials

Metal sheet cladding panels are made from a variety of materials that suit all types of building designs. Steel, stainless steel, galvanised steel, aluminium, zinc alloys and even copper are used to create metal panels for cladding purposes. You can further add various finishes to create different colours and textures or enhance the inherent metal finish. Aesthetics aside, metal panels made from aluminium, zinc or galvanised steel also offer excellent corrosion resistance, which makes them perfect for use as exterior cladding.

3) They are immensely durable

Durability is one of the principal advantages of metal cladding panels, especially when used externally like wall cladding, roof decks or trim. A metal panelled cladding is remarkably strong and highly resilient to water damage, electrochemical reactions and corrosion. Compared to materials like drywall, wood and composites, metal cladding panels are also much better at resisting damage caused by impacts like hail or other flying objects. This is one reason why a lot of exterior industrial cladding uses metal panels. Overall, metal panels boast of an impressively long lifespan while requiring almost no maintenance.

4) They weigh considerably lower

When used for exterior cladding, metal panels are significantly lighter than their masonry or concrete counterparts. This has an economic benefit too. The lighter weight of metal cladding means structural components of lower load ratings can be used. And since these components cost lower, the overall construction cost and complexity of installation are reduced as well. As far as interiors are concerned, metal panels made of certain materials offer a lot more rigidity than drywall and other materials while weighing much lower.

5) They are highly malleable

Modern design makes extensive use of elements like 3D objects, curves and other complex shapes to create a distinct identity for a building. These design elements are highly difficult, if not impossible, to achieve using traditional cladding materials like concrete, drywall, masonry or wood. Metal panels, however, can be bent, twisted and stretched to create any shape or curve. This is only possible because of the flexible and malleable nature of metals which greatly enhances design possibilities.

6) They are easy to install

The metal cladding process is notably quicker and uncomplicated compared to brick, block or concrete cladding. It is also an easier and less labour intensive task. This is only possible because metals panels can be manufactured in large and lightweight sections, which makes it easy to cover a greater area at a quicker pace than traditional cladding materials. In fact, several metal cladding systems feature special fastening mechanisms that further quicken the process. If sealing a building quickly is the need of the hour, there is no better alternative to metal cladding panels.

7) They are inexpensive

Using metal cladding panels for the exterior is considerably cheaper than using masonry or concrete options, especially when seen in the context of labour and material costs. Their excellent durability also results in cost savings in the long term.
While the cost of using metal panels for interior cladding is similar to that of other materials, the equation changes when you compare the durability and low maintenance requirements of metal panels with those of materials like wood or drywall. Either way, metal panels for interior as well as exterior cladding offer more value for money in the long run.

8) They are more sustainable

All types of metal cladding contain recycled content in varying degrees which makes them quite eco-friendly. They are also easily recyclable since they are manufactured using common metals. On the whole, this reduces the carbon footprint of any building substantially.

In this way, metal cladding panels bring a lot of benefits to the table and are changing the way buildings are designed and constructed. Going forward, it would be safe to assume metal panels would become the dominant choice for exterior cladding.

If you are looking for quality cladding contractors in Essex, do get in touch with us. We offer complete cladding solutions for commercial and non-commercial buildings in Essex. Contact us today for expert advice on installing wall cladding for your building.